Like any other car in the Toyota lineup, the Japanese marque made the 2018 Rush with the aim to keep the driver and passengers safe throughout their journey. This gave the entry-level SUV a perfect 5-Star ASEAN NCAP rating, outscoring its greatest rival, the Mitsubishi Xpander.
The Toyota Rush's main strengths are the features designed to aid when needed, meaning, it has the most safety features even for its entry-level variants – a fact that should be one of the prime considerations of car buyers. It's an entry-level SUV that’s targeted towards those who want to own an SUV in the Philippines, but don’t want to cross the P1.5-million price point.
Features That Matter
In the cabin, the Rush is quite far from what the Fortuner or even the RAV4 can offer: yellow dome lights, non-lit vanity mirrors for the driver and front passenger, manual headlights and wipers, and manual seat adjusters.
Still, at its price point, it has LED headlights and taillights that illuminate very well as is good-looking. There’s no separate button for the electronic door locks but they’re speed-sensing so you’re pretty much covered. It also has one-touch lane changer that is sometimes overlooked but is actually pretty convenient.
The Rush also has a seven-inch capacitive touchscreen head unit that plays CDs. Though this infotainment system doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it does connect seamlessly to smartphones via Bluetooth, while Apple users have the luxury to play music via USB. Hands-free phone calls are also loud and clear as tested. One tiny bit of a qualm, though – the USB port embedded within the head unit charges the phone slowly, so you would be better off using a standard USB car charging accessory.
With these efforts put into adding driver-assistive features of things that actually matter, I just wish Toyota have added this: cruise control. While it is true that cruise controls are useless within the limits of the city, I personally think that having this feature on long drives would be very convenient.
The Best Safety Package
As I’ve mentioned, it seems like Toyota made safety its top priority with the cars it released this year. Six airbags, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX child seat tethers, and Vehicle Stability Control – all these things are present down to the most affordable manual variant. The latter is something to rave about because it has Hill Start Assist, which works perfectly well even on steep ramps, as well as Traction Control and Emergency Stop Signal.
Another safety gem inside the Rush is its feature that disables your smartphone’s keyboard if it’s connected to the infotainment system via Bluetooth. This would prevent you from texting while driving, which is not only dangerous but illegal as well. There’s a seatbelt indicator for every passenger, too, but the audible alert engages for the front passenger only.
The airbags, on the other hand, are found all over the Rush’s cabin: driver, front passenger, two sides, and two curtains. These things are passive, meaning they won’t actively make you happy that they’re included in the car. However, during accidents, these could mean the difference between saving yours and your passengers’ lives or losing them all.
Specifications
Engine
1.5 LFuel Type
GasolinePerformance
102 hp @ 6,000 rpmTransmission
Automatic-
Summary
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Name Toyota Rush 1.5 E AT Body Type MPV Price ₱1,052,000 Transmission Category Automatic -
Engine
-
Engine Size 1.5 L Displacement 1,496 cc Number of Cylinders 4 Number of Valves 16 Transmission Type 4-Speed Automatic -
Performance
-
Drivetrain Rear-Wheel Drive Max Output (hp) 102 hp @ 6,000 rpm Max Torque (nm) 134 Nm @ 4,200 rpm *estimated -
Economy & Environment
-
Fuel Type Gasoline Emissions Standard n/a Fuel Capacity 45.0 L Combined Fuel Consumption 8.3 km/L *estimated -
Dimensions
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Length 4,435 mm Width 1,695 mm Height 1,705 mm Wheelbase 2,685 mm Turning Circle 10 m Ground Clearance 220 mm Trunk Capacity 220 L Number of Doors 5 Number of Seats 7 -
Safety & Security
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Driver's Airbag Front Passenger's Airbag Side Airbags Curtain Airbags Knee Airbag Auto Brake System Electronic Brake Distribution Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Anti-lock Brake System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution
Immobilizer Security Alarm Stability Control Electronic Door Locks Speed Sensing Door Locks ISOFIX Lane Departure Warning System Blind-Spot Detection System -
Features
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Cruise Control Front Parking Sensors Rear Parking Sensors Leather Upholstery Push Start Button Wheel Size 16 in Wheels Metal Type Alloy Airconditioning System Auto A/C Entertainment System Touch Screen 7" Display Audio with CD and MP3 via 6 speakers Connectivity Aux, USB, and Bluetooth w/ Weblink Connectivity for iOS and Android Navigation Ready Warranty 3 Years (100,000 km) Keyless Entry Roof Rack Sunroof Electric Adjustable Seats Power Steering Power Windows Power Outlet Steering Wheel Audio Control -
Technology
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Active Park Assist Hill Start Assist AWD Modes n/a Tire Pressure Monitoring Heads-up Display Power Liftgate Start-stop System
Colors
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